Last updated: 21 October 2026 · Written by the GoGolfVietnam team in Da Nang
Yes, Dalat Palace Golf Club is worth playing, and for most visitors it is the first Da Lat round to book. It is the only one of the city’s three courses inside the town itself, the history goes back to the French era, and the hilly, pine-lined layout plays nothing like Vietnam’s flat resort courses. It suits golfers who value character over length.
Quick Answer
- 18 holes, par 72, 7,009 yards from the back tees (6,557 from the blues).
- In central Da Lat, above Xuan Huong Lake; about 8 minutes by car from Da Lat Market.
- Pine-framed, hilly fairways and bentgrass greens, rare in Vietnam.
- Best for golfers who want history, views and a short transfer; big hitters may prefer the longer courses outside town.
Dalat Palace Golf Club at a glance
| Detail | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Holes / par | 18 holes, par 72 (34 out, 38 in) | GolfPass scorecard |
| Length | 7,009 yd (black) · 6,557 yd (blue) · 6,114 yd (white) · 5,555 yd (red) | GolfPass scorecard |
| Greens | Bentgrass | GolfPass; Golfasian |
| Altitude | About 1,500 m (5,000 ft) | Golfasian |
| Location | Above Xuan Huong Lake, central Da Lat | Google Maps |
| To Da Lat Market | 8 minutes by car (3.1 km) | Google Maps, 21 Oct 2026 |
| Caddies | Required; cart arrangements confirmed at booking | GolfPass course listing |
Photos, the course map and contact details are on our Dalat Palace course page with photos and the course map.
A short history of golf at Dalat Palace
Dalat Palace Golf Club is a golf course in central Da Lat, Vietnam, that is often described as the oldest in the country. Golf on this hill dates to the French colonial era: course databases such as GolfPass list 1922, while VietnamFinance (May 2022) notes that the exact year cannot be confirmed and that a first layout of only a few holes was sketched in the 1920s and built around the early 1930s.
What is clear is the later story. The course was abandoned more than once during decades of upheaval, and in the early 1990s a foreign investor revived it. The modern 18-hole layout opened in 1994, with IMG credited for the redesign. Today’s course is that 1990s layout on a site with roughly a century of golf behind it.
How Dalat Palace plays
Expect hills more than length. Fairways rise and fall across the slopes above the lake, pines line most holes, and very few shots are played from a flat lie. Club selection on uphill and downhill approaches matters more than raw distance here.
The two nines are very different. The front nine is par 34 and only 3,106 yards from the back tees, while the back nine is par 38 and 3,903 yards. The scorecard rates the 6th, a 519-yard par 5, as the hardest hole, and the 14th, at 556 yards, is the longest.
The greens are bentgrass, a cool-climate grass that few Vietnamese courses can grow. Da Lat’s mild temperatures make it possible, and the putting surfaces feel noticeably different from the warm-weather grasses on the coast.
Who Dalat Palace suits, and the honest trade-offs
| Suits you if… | Think twice if… |
|---|---|
| You want the historic, in-town round in Da Lat | You want the longest, hardest test on the plateau |
| You like pines, slopes and lake views | Uneven, sloping lies frustrate you |
| You are travelling with a non-golfer who will stay in town | You are based at Tuyen Lam or near the airport |
| You have one round in Da Lat and want the classic | You need a big modern practice set-up |
The biggest practical advantage is location. With the course minutes from the town centre, there is no long transfer before an early tee time, and lunch afterwards is in town. For low handicappers chasing yardage, SAM Tuyen Lam and The Dalat at 1200 are longer tests.
Weather at the course: dry season and rainy season
Da Lat sits at about 1,500 metres and is mild all year, with average temperatures of around 18–21°C (VinWonders, July 2025). The dry season runs from about November to April and is the most settled time to play. From about May to October, showers often arrive in the early afternoon, so book a morning tee time and bring a light rain jacket.
Mornings are cool all year, and early tee times in December and January can start in a jacket. A month-by-month guide is coming soon.
Practical tips before you tee off
- Book a morning tee time. It is the coolest part of the day and, from May to October, the driest.
- Dress code. The course asks for appropriate golf attire, and metal spikes are not allowed (GolfPass listing). A collared shirt and soft-spike shoes are the safe choice.
- Payment. The listing notes that credit cards are accepted; carry some Vietnamese dong for the caddie tip.
- Practice. There is a driving range, a putting green and a chipping area, so arrive 30 minutes early and use them.
- Club rental. Rental sets are available if you would rather not fly with clubs; ask us to reserve one with your tee time.
Where to stay for Dalat Palace
Stay in the town centre around Xuan Huong Lake. From there the course is about 8 to 12 minutes by car (Google Maps, October 2026), close enough to head back for a rest between golf and dinner. The town base also makes evenings easy, with restaurants, the night market and cafés nearby. If a partner is travelling with you, our things to do in Da Lat for non-golfers guide starts at the lake below the clubhouse.
Dalat Palace or the other two Da Lat courses?
Choose Dalat Palace for history, views and convenience. Choose SAM Tuyen Lam for a longer lakeside course and resort stays among the pines, about 25–30 minutes south of town. The Dalat at 1200, near Lien Khuong Airport, is the biggest course and works best on an arrival or departure day. Our comparison of all three Da Lat courses, with real drive times sets them side by side.
Our verdict
Dalat Palace is the Da Lat round we include in most of our Da Lat packages. It is not the longest course on the plateau, but few courses anywhere in Vietnam combine this much history, cool-climate greens and a setting minutes from a lakeside town. Play it in the morning, finish with lunch in town, and you will understand why golfers have been coming up this hill since the French era.
It is the opening round of our four-day Da Lat package that starts at Dalat Palace, which adds SAM Tuyen Lam on the next day. For other lengths and hotel levels, browse golf trips to Da Lat built around the town course. GoGolfVietnam, a local golf tour operator based in Da Nang, books tee times, caddies and transfers here for our guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Dalat Palace Golf Club worth playing?›
Yes, especially if you only have one round in Da Lat. It is the historic course in the town centre, with pine-lined, hilly fairways, bentgrass greens and views over Xuan Huong Lake.
2. Is Dalat Palace the oldest golf course in Vietnam?›
It is often described that way. Golf on the site dates to the French era, with course databases listing 1922, although historians note the exact year is uncertain. The current 18-hole layout opened in 1994.
3. How long is Dalat Palace Golf Club?›
Par 72 and 7,009 yards from the black tees, or 6,557 yards from the blue tees, according to the GolfPass scorecard.
4. How far is Dalat Palace Golf Club from the city centre?›
About 8 minutes by car (3.1 km) from Da Lat Market, and around 8–12 minutes from the central hotels by Xuan Huong Lake.
5. Are caddies required at Dalat Palace?›
Yes, caddies are required. Cart arrangements are confirmed when we book your tee time.
6. Can you play Dalat Palace in the rainy season?›
Yes. From about May to October, rain usually arrives in the early afternoon, so book a morning tee time.
Sources: GolfPass course listing and scorecard (accessed 21 October 2026); Golfasian course page; VietnamFinance, “Vua Bảo Đại và thú chơi golf” (6 May 2022); VinWonders Da Lat weather guide (July 2025); Google Maps (21 October 2026).
GoGolfVietnam, a local golf tour operator based in Da Nang, arranges tee times, transfers and hotels in Da Lat and across Vietnam.
Get your free personalized itinerary & quote within 1 hour!
